Barn Owl in flight

[Kester Clarke]

Dorsal view of a Barn Owl in flight during last light. Not baited or called. He only did one pass over this field and I was able to get 3 good frames. This one offered the best head angle and wing position.

7d Mk II | 500 f/4L Mk I | 1.4x III | Handheld
700mm, f/5.6, 1/2500s, ISO 1600

Almost full frame, 25px Gau. blur on BG, Levels, 25% detail extractor on bird, smart sharpen

Appreciate your critique,
Thanks!

[Lyle Gruby]

Wow, this is beautiful. Great specimen, I love those claws just past his tail. My only possible crit is it looks like the white spot on the near wing is a little hot.

[Karl Egressy]

Excellent banking pose, nice eye contact.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Really lucky!
so nice owl and bathed in sweet light. Really love the pose, nice face and wing patterns. A quick question: why 25pix gauss. blur? was the BG too noisy or distracting? If mine, I would use less as the bird stands out too much, like in an unnatural way. Just my humble opinion. :)

[Kester Clarke]

The background was uneven and distracting. The blur makes it smoother and more pleasing.
Perhaps, it was too much. Here's a re-edit with 10px.

[arash_hazeghi]

love the topside view and details, nice BG too. sharp with good exposure well done Kester.

[gail bisson]

Repost is excellent.
Great light and topside view and the claws peeking out under the tail really make this a special shot,
Gail

[keith mitchell]

Barn Owl in it's dark phase, excellent banking pose it really is very good.

Keith.

[Raybel Robles]

Lovely image. One that I have dream of capturing. There are a few Barn Owls here where I live but I have never been able to see one on the day time.

I will maybe run just a tad bit sharpening on the bird in your image. Everything else looks perfect.

[Jim Neiger]

Excellant capture!

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the topside view, details composition and BG in the repost. Very well done.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

The background was uneven and distracting. The blur makes it smoother and more pleasing.
Perhaps, it was too much. Here's a re-edit with 10px.

Great repost Kester! thanks!

[Marina Scarr]

Killer frame and RP is even better. Love the talons peeking out the back and the way he's giving you the "eye"!